Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI, Licenses Characters for Sora Video Platform

December 12, 2025
Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI and allow over 200 of its characters to appear in Sora-generated videos under a three-year licensing agreement, with user-created clips to be streamed on Disney+.

Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI and license more than 200 of its characters for use in the Sora app, announced in a press release. The three-year agreement makes Disney the first major content licensing partner on Sora, OpenAI’s short-form generative video platform.

The deal allows users to generate user-prompted social videos featuring characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. A curated selection of these fan-created videos will be available for streaming on Disney+. The agreement excludes any talent likenesses or voices.

As part of the partnership, Disney will also become a major customer of OpenAI, using its APIs to develop new products and tools, including for Disney+, and deploying ChatGPT internally for employees. The companies said the collaboration will focus on responsible use of AI and maintaining safeguards to protect creators’ rights.

Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to begin generating fan-inspired content with Disney’s licensed characters in early 2026, according to the announcement.

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